60KW genset phase quandry

[DieselAddict]

Residential power is split phase (center tapped single phase). Industrial power is 3 phase.

Residential has two load conductors each 180 degrees out of phase with each other (plus a neutral)

Industrial power has 3 load conductors each 120 degrees out of phase with each other. It can have a neutral or not depending on application.

 

[Daybreak]

Howdy,
Go to any industrial business.
Say a mall, a 10 story office building, a large truck service center, etc...
Large equipment which use motors, are more likely to be 3 phase. (and to mess with you more, there are some different 3 phase methods) and the phase rotation needs to be the same for the motor hookup to spin the right direction too.

Normal household.
normal sockets on the wall (USA 120volts, 60Hz)
larger powered items at home, water heater, electric heat, A/C, electric range, electric dryer. (USA 240 volts, 60Hz)

The normal household uses 1 phase (also known as split phase) 120/240

Larger equipment 3 phase, think of a clock moving clockwise, say the power poles are at 2 6 10 say you wired it 6 2 10 that would mess things up with phase rotation.

There is a lot more than that, that is a quicky summary.

 

[RJM27]

That's where it gets confusing with or with out a neutral. Someone earlier in this thread said they would run 2 legs into the house & 1 to the garage ?
Thanks

Residential power is split phase (center tapped single phase). Industrial power is 3 phase.

Residential has two load conductors each 180 degrees out of phase with each other (plus a neutral)

Industrial power has 3 load conductors each 120 degrees out of phase with each other. It can have a neutral or not depending on application.

 

[RJM27]

Thanks

Howdy,
Go to any industrial business.
Say a mall, a 10 story office building, a large truck service center, etc...
Large equipment which use motors, are more likely to be 3 phase. (and to mess with you more, there are some different 3 phase methods) and the phase rotation needs to be the same for the motor hookup to spin the right direction too.

Normal household.
normal sockets on the wall (USA 120volts, 60Hz)
larger powered items at home, water heater, electric heat, A/C, electric range, electric dryer. (USA 240 volts, 60Hz)

The normal household uses 1 phase (also known as split phase) 120/240

Larger equipment 3 phase, think of a clock moving clockwise, say the power poles are at 2 6 10 say you wired it 6 2 10 that would mess things up with phase rotation.

There is a lot more than that, that is a quicky summary.

 

[DieselAddict]

That's where it gets confusing with or with out a neutral. Someone earlier in this thread said they would run 2 legs into the house & 1 to the garage ?
Thanks

If you have a single phase capable machine you should run it in single phase mode and wire everything up normally. It will have a neutral.

The 3 phase generators is what you can split up to run two hots and a neutral to your house loads and the remaining hot and a neutral to garage loads. Both neutrals would connect to the neutral lug on the generator.

 

[RJM27]

Copy That

If you have a single phase capable machine you should run it in single phase mode and wire everything up normally. It will have a neutral.

The 3 phase generators is what you can split up to run two hots and a neutral to your house loads and the remaining hot and a neutral to garage loads. Both neutrals would connect to the neutral lug on the generator.

 

[Guyfang]

Howdy,
Go to any industrial business.
Say a mall, a 10 story office building, a large truck service center, etc...
Large equipment which use motors, are more likely to be 3 phase. (and to mess with you more, there are some different 3 phase methods) and the phase rotation needs to be the same for the motor hookup to spin the right direction too.

Normal household.
normal sockets on the wall (USA 120volts, 60Hz)
larger powered items at home, water heater, electric heat, A/C, electric range, electric dryer. (USA 240 volts, 60Hz)

The normal household uses 1 phase (also known as split phase) 120/240

Larger equipment 3 phase, think of a clock moving clockwise, say the power poles are at 2 6 10 say you wired it 6 2 10 that would mess things up with phase rotation.

There is a lot more than that, that is a quicky summary.

Thats what's so nice about 3 phase. When you want to change rotational direction on a 3 phase motor, simply swap any two phases. In the industrial world, 3 phase is the way to go. Starting motors is easyer. A star/triangle circuit lets you start motors that have a big draw, much easyer.

 

[DeadParrot]

OP -What were the conditions of the gift? If permitted, you might see if you could work a trade for a 120/240 15kw unit. Given the low hours on your current unit, might wind up with some left over cash to cover things like a mounting pad, wire and xfer switch.

Two downsides to the larger unit are larger fuel consumption and you might never put a good load on it.

 

[swbradley1]

Would someone be kind enough to help me understand the difference between single & triple phase and their applications!? Seeing that I have 002 & 803!
As always thanks!!

With pictures

https://blog.tripplite.com/single-phase-vs-three-phase-power-explained/

 

[RJM27]

Very helpfull!!!

With pictures

https://blog.tripplite.com/single-phase-vs-three-phase-power-explained/

 

[kadetklapp]

It is an 806B. So far I've learned that the unit has 120v power (courtesy power) off the unit, but is only 10 amps, but that with the proper setup, it can power off two of three legs without issue.

We have to have it two years before it can be liquidated. The problem is that I will not be granted another unit as I already have this one. I may try to turn it in and get another, but the LESO office does NOT like that. I'd rather just use what we have, as with this much wattage I can run the entire town hall, town utility shop, and I can also have it taken out to the town water wells to run the pumps.

As for the batteries, it had two nearly new looking Optima red tops, but one of them is leaking and swelled.

I was able to jump it and install another car battery and crank it up, but not quite enough ass to start.

 

[Triple Jim]

If you have multiple loads like that, you can run one on one pair of legs and neutral, the next on a different pair and neutral, and a third load on the last pair and neutral (overlapping) and balance the load pretty well. It sounds like it might work very well for your application. The pumps may have 3 phase motors, so it would be worth checking, while you're checking the data plates on the other loads to verify they're OK with 208v.